Fuel Filter Replacement. C240, Petrol.

[c240yaz]

Today, changed the fuel filter (petrol) on my 2001 203 C240 at 59K miles. Most difficult part was removing the old "Click R" clips, even when using the correct tool for the job. Required a lot of pinching and wiggling with the pinchers, before I finally got them to dis-engage, numbered 1 -4 in below picture. Item No.5 is the filter clamp retaining screw.

Reversed car onto drive up ramps, removed N/S floor cover, hoses, then filter. Fitted new filter, new clips. and a new hose clip to the "Can" pipe hose. I marked the new filter with milage and date, for future reference, benefit to either me, or future owner. I also cleaned out about a half kilo of muck from inside the plastic N/S floor cover, need to do the O/S after seeing this. (Neither have been off in 6 years)

Took a few pics for anyone wondering what was required. I also got a surprise soaking with petrol when removing the last pipe, which was not enjoyable, and could be regarded as VERY dangerous, as it got me straight in the face and eyes.

When replacing the large plastic floor cover, 2 of the plastic screws which hold it on, thread stripped. Wish I had purchased a few of these before commencing the job.

Out of curiosity, disected the old filter with the hacksaw, to see what was inside. It was very dirty on the intake side of the paper element, Black to touch. This shows on the last pic. I am sure that this was the original filter from new.

Note that I done this job with the car on drive up ramps, on the deck, it is not the preffered way. Four poster recommended for this job.

New Hengst filter from Eurocarparts. £40.05 plus vat and postage. (I am sure it is the same filter ?)
New Mercedes benz filter, dealer. £69.89 plus vat and postage.

Guess where I bought mine ?

 

[c240yaz]

New Filter Fitted and disected old filter. Note the "black" (2) intake side of the paper element, compared to the output side (1).

Recomendation: If your petrol engine has done more than 50K miles, suggest get the filter changed. Touching the intake side of the paper element (2) was clearly very dirty. You can also see the dirt breaking through into the output side, (1).

Note that I cut the fold in the element paper to show this difference, it's the same on the whole circumference of the element.

 

[Dec]

A very useful How-To, thanks for that.

Dec

 

[BlackC55]

The best thing to do to avoid a soaking is to clamp off the pipes before removal.

Petrol in the eyes hurts. Petrol in the ear makes you fall over.

 

[c240yaz]

Tried clamping the pipes, but clamps were not strong enough. Also doing it lying on the deck was very awkward. Yes, got very dizzy after that.

 

[Dieselman]

Good write-up Yaz.
I cut open my diesel filter last week and it was rather similar but was black all the way through and has only been on about 15k miles.
I put this down to the Bio-diesel cleaning the old varnish out of the tank and lines from when running on fossil diesel.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Try this for clamping the pipes. Take a pair of mole grips and 2 x 16mm sockets. Put the sockets over the jaws of the mole grips and squeeze the trapped pipe. It works for me

 

[big x]

Tried clamping the pipes, but clamps were not strong enough. Also doing it lying on the deck was very awkward. Yes, got very dizzy after that.

Try opening the fuel cap first. It released some of the pressure when I changed the one on my BMW.
I cut open the filter which had 130k and 8 years under it's belt (filters are normally date coded) and although black there where no visible particles blocking the pores.
In UK conditions the large filters found in Mercs and BMWs last a very long .I would say 5years/100k if you don't run the tank dry.This is is just as well as despite having a FSH and invoices showing a fuel filter change mine had never been changed before.

adam

 

[Dieselman]

Just buy a pair of pipe clamps, they're cheap and won't damage the pipes.

You should really undo a fuel union with a rag over it to release the pressure before undoing the clamps.

 

[c240yaz]

Yes, fuel cap was loosened, but about half a litre still ran out. It just caught me as I was at a bad angle and did not plan for the pipe to come off when it did,

 

[television]

Good write-up Yaz.
I cut open my diesel filter last week and it was rather similar but was black all the way through and has only been on about 15k miles.
I put this down to the Bio-diesel cleaning the old varnish out of the tank and lines from when running on fossil diesel.

Did not you find any chips in yours

 

[c240yaz]

I've hunted the Russian parts catalouge for the plastic screws that hold on the under carriage full lenght plastic covers, can't find them. Does anyone know the P/N ?

 

[230K]

I've hunted the Russian parts catalouge for the plastic screws that hold on the under carriage full lenght plastic covers, can't find them. Does anyone know the P/N ?

Is that the sound deadening covers or what exactly is it?? I have genuine parts cat. and was looking for the screws that hold the cover on the fuel filter but i assume there is no cover on ur filter.

Thanks,

230K

 

[c240yaz]

Hi 230K, No, not a fuel filter cover as such, but the big long plastic cover that protects the floor pan, from front to rear, The cover itself is about 6ft long, there is one on each side of the car. N/S and O/S. I think that each is held on by 8 plastic screws.

 

[Dieselman]

HERE. are the screws for the main undershield.

If you mean the nuts for the long side protectors look HERE.

 

[c240yaz]

HERE. are the screws for the main undershield.

If you mean the nuts for the long side protectors look HERE.

Dieselman and 230K, thanks for your help .

After looking at the drawing, it is item 230.(230K, what a coincidence ? ) On Inchcape, the P/N is 2019900050 unit cost £0.27. At this price, it will not bust the bank, so I will go ahead and order some.

(On another subject, since it is a dry day, I going to see if I can remove the Diff breather, to see if that's whats causing the oil seepage from my diff).